They fix big trucks and solve puzzles. In-demand diesel techs can earn more than $100K

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development projections foresee the need for 1,017 new bus, truck and diesel mechanics by 2024, that accounts for a nearly 15 percent increase in the workforce.
T'xer Zhon Kha/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

That’s the fleet identification number on the outside of the truck Jim Howe is working on in the service area of Truck Country near Wausau. There’s a good chance he'll eventually see that truck on the roads and highways of Wisconsin and know he helped keep it running.

But for now, the top of the engine is disassembled as he works to replace a head gasket

“I know when I see it down the road, you’ll look for the truck number, and it’ll be ‘Hey, I remember that,’” said Howe.

Howe, 34, is one of almost 7,000 people in the state trained, and working, in truck, bus and diesel maintenance.

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development projections foresee the need for 1,017 new bus, truck and diesel mechanics by 2024, that accounts for a nearly 15 percent increase in the workforce. According to state figures the annual median wage – the middle between the highs and lows – is around $44,000, though that number can be much higher due to the demand for qualified workers.

But employers say they are in almost continual need of qualified technicians, especially among younger workers.

Over the course of the year, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin’s State of Opportunity series is talking to people from diverse careers about why they do the job and the pride they take in their work.

Reasons vary for those working in diesel and truck — from a life-long love of working on engines and large equipment to opportunity to learn daily — but all say there’s a sense of pride of seeing a once-malfunctioning truck roll off the lot in working condition.

The word “challenge” comes up several times among the techs working on a half-dozen trucks parked in the indoor service area at Truck Country. They're motivated by the challenge of diagnosing and solving the problems laid out before them. The job blends mechanical and electrical know-how as electronics become larger elements of operating and diagnosing trucks.

Keith Plautz has been in the business for more than 40 years. He started his career with an engine rebuilder when he was in his mid-teens. At 57, he’s seen the trucks and the industry evolve.

“Mechanical components you could always figure out just by listening. Electrical stuff you have to hunt for, because it’s all wrapped in big … harnesses,” the rural Marathon County resident said. “Sometimes it gets frustrating, but after you’ve done it for a while you get to know it. But there are always challenges.”

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Service technician Keith Plautz, 57, town of Texas, works on to diagnose a semi-truck Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Truck Country in Rothschild, Wis. T'xer Zhon Kha/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Plautz says the key is keeping it simple: Look for the most obvious causes first and work from there.

“Look for anything that doesn’t look right and listen for anything that doesn’t sound right,” he said.

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The job can be as much an art as a science, and despite the proliferation of electronics, working with hands and muscles remains part of the job.

To find — and keep — employees, companies like Truck Country offer their own training program and educational partnerships. Technical colleges around the state and region also serve as a training grounds and source for future workers. But the need for qualified and willing workers is still there — and likely will be for some time.

“Trying to find a technician that has five years of experience is like trying to find a needle in a haystack,” said Roger Skemp, recruiting manager with McCoy Group, the parent company of Truck Country. “The good technicians, as long as they’re being taken care of, they’re just not leaving. So you have to be at top of benefits, have a good pay range and take care of your people.”

He said the company has technicians who make more than $100,000 a year. Truck Country operates 23 locations in six states in the Midwest and employs about 220 diesel technicians.

Troy Veith, 27, pursued a career in the field five years ago following four years of service with the U.S. Army and follow-on education through a technical college. He’s drawn to large pieces of equipment and keeping them operational.

“There’s a lot of opportunity in this field, especially for younger people, because there are always going to be trucks on the road,” he said. “You can’t do daily life in Wisconsin without a truck. You’ve got to have everything delivered or removed. You’ve got to have a truck.”